Coil-compacting machine and method

ABSTRACT

The invention contemplates an improved technique for axially compacting large continuous coils of wire or rod, such as steel in the order of 0.5- to 1.5-cm diameter, and weighing in the order of one ton. Each coil is automatically loaded onto an elevator platform over an upstanding locating spindle which carries the platform. The thus-loaded spindle is elevated for connection to a clamp-adapter assembly, comprising an annular pressure plate through which the spindle is positioned, and a connection plate to which the upper end of the spindle is locked. Axially acting fluid-pressure means reacting between the two plates then axially displaces the ends of the coil until achievement of the desired compaction, whereupon the coil is banded, and the clamp assembly relaxed and disconnected from the spindle.

[ 1 Sept. 30, 1975 COIL-COMPACTING MACHINE AND METHOD [75] Inventor: Hans Joachim Paletzki, Hagen,

Germany [73] Assignee: Georgetown Steel Corporation,

Georgetown, SC.

[22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 537,428

[52] US. Cl. 140/1; 100/3; 100/7 [51] Int. Cl. 1365B 13/20 [58] Field of Search 140/1, 2, 111,113; 100/3,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hopgood, Calimafde, Kalil, Blaustein & Lieberman 5 7 ABSTRACT The invention contemplates an improved technique for axially compacting large continuous coils of wire or rod, such as steel in the order of 0.5- to 1.5-cm diameter, and weighing in the order of one ton. Each coil is automatically loaded onto an elevator platform over an upstanding locating spindle which carries the platform. The thus-loaded spindle is elevated for connection to a clamp-adapter assembly, comprising an annular pressure plate through which the spindle is positioned, and a connection plate to which the upper end of the spindle is locked. Axially acting fluidpressure means reacting between the two plates then axially displaces the ends of the coil until achievement of the desired compaction, whereupon the coil is banded, and the clamp assembly relaxed and disconnected from the spindle.

27 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US Patent se t.30,1975 SheetlofS 3,908,712-

oooooo/ood Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of 5 3,908,712

US. Patent US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,908,712

U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet4 of5 3,908,712

Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 5 of 5 3,908,712

U.S. Patent COIL-COMPACTING MACHINE AND METHOD This invention relates to an improved machine and method for axially compacting large continuous coils of wire or rod, such as steel in the order of 0.5 to 1.5-cm diameter, coiled in loops of about one-meter'diameter, and weighing in the order of oneton. While these dimensions have thus-far applied to use of the invention, they will be understood to be purely illustrative and in no sense limiting. r

In the use to which the invention has been applied, hot one-ton steel billets are successively roll-reduced to a desired rod size, producing, for example, a single mile-longlength of /a-inch diameter product, the same being delivered on a conveyor belt as a-limp, collapsed and somewhat flattened helix of overlapped turns that are of approximately 1.5-meter diameter. The coilcompacting machine of the invention receives each coil as an independent load, axially compacts the same so that it can be banded,'and then delivers the banded product to an exit conveyer, for storage or shipment. Past attempts to package individual coils of the character indicated have involved primary reliance upon gravity, the coils being loaded over an upstanding l ocating spindle while hot from the reducing-roll operation. Banding devices produce a degree of compaction of the thus-loaded coils, as each banding strip is cinched in its radial wrap of part of one angular segmerit of the turns of the coil. Additionally, attempts have been made to apply elevated axial-compression force to the loaded coil, using a vertically acting ram carried by a bridge over the loaded-spindle location. But all these attempts have fallen short of achieving a desired packaged coil of minimum axial length, i.e., maximum axial compaction; even the bridge-mounted ram devices are considered less than satisfactory because 'of the tendency to spring or jack the bridge unless the bridgeand its foundation are prohibitively massive.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to pro vide an improved coil-compacting machine and method, avoiding disadvantages attendant prior devices and techniques.

Another object is to achieve coil-compaction of product of the character indicated, to a hitherto unattained degree of axial reduction, to the end that packaged product may be more dense and more readily handied, and for more efficient storage and transport of the product.

- A further object is to meet the above objects without imposing any unusual or excessive forces upon supporting structure. A specific objectis to reduce to a minimum the bulk, complexity and cost of supporting structure for coilcompressing clamp mechanism, while realizing coilcompression forces that have been hitherto unavailable or impractical.

A general object is to meet the above objects with structure which lends itself to automation, which is basically simple in concept and safe in operation, and which in a steel-coil plant of the character indicated is inherently capable of serving the production-capacity output of the reducing-roll operation, as on successively rolled one-ton ingots. j

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out orwill'occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a simplified view'iri side elevation, showing a machine of the invention," installed on-line, between an inputmaterial conveyor and an output conveyor for delivery of packaged product, certain parts being broken away and in section, at a vertical section plane through the center of the machine and through the central axes of the conveyors;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation, showing a mounted-spindle part of the machine of FIG. 1, the samebeingpartly broken away and in vertical section through the spindle axis;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of a spindle-locating portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the spindle of FIG. 2, partly broken away and in section at 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation, showing a clamp-adapter assembly, being part of the machine of FIG. 1, the same being partly broken away and in vertical section along an alignment designated 4-4 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view, as seen from a horizontal section taken at 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a simplified exploded perspective view of the spindle of FIGS. 2 and 3, in relation to pressureplate and connecting-plate parts of the assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a simplified view in side elevation, partly broken away and in vertical section, to show a modified clamp-adapter assembly in its relation to a coacting spindle; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of spindle and conveyor elements, for an elevated spindle positon.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the invention is shown in application to a coil-compacting machine served at its inlet by a conveyor 10 of coil material to be packaged and at its outlet by a conveyor 11 for delivery of packaged product, being a right cylindrical annulus as suggested at 12 on the delivery conveyor 11. Use herein of the expression package or packaged will be understood to apply to coil material which has been compressed and banded, by application of one or more bands of strip steel that have been cinched and secured tightly around one or more local sectors of the collective bundle of turns for a given axially compressed coil. Banding materials and machines are well known and commercially available; they are used in a final stage of the invention but per se they form no part of the invention.

,For the form shown, the compacting machine is a two-station indexing device, employing two upstanding spindles 13-14 which are mounted on a turntable 15 at spaced vertical axes, symetrically offset from a vertical shaft 16 which projects from floor-mounted base structure l7. Spindle 13 is seen at a coil-loading station, being coaxially positioned beneath a coil-wire guide ring 18 which constitutes part of coil-loading mechanism to be described. At offset about the index axis definedby shaft l6, the other spindle 14 is at a coil-loading station, being coaxially positioned beneath a compactor clamp assembly 19 forming part of the invention and to be later described in detail in connecdrive motor 20 for a pinion 21, in edge-drive engagement with a turntable-mounted ring gear 22. Gear 22 is arcuate about the index axis, to the extent of determining 180 degrees of rotary reciprocating index displacements, for shuttle interchange of spindles 13-14 at the respective loading and compacting stations. Limit switches, suggested at 23-24, will be understood to provide accurate frame-based references for motor 20 to be stopped at correctly indexed positions.

The inlet conveyor and inlet guide ring 18, as well as the compactor clamp-adapter assembly 19 and the delivery conveyor 11, are all carried by upper frame structure which will be understood to be provided by spaced horizontal longitudinal beams as at 25, carried by transverse beams 26 atop floor-based columns or walls 27. The spacing of walls 27 defines the bay in which turntable and its spindles 13-14 are mounted, protective railings 28-29 being shown for safe personnel passage or accommodation between opposite sides of the machine. Separate subfloor wells 30-31 are provided at the respective index stations, for service access to the frame-based cylinder 34 of an elevating ram 33 for the spindle which happens to be at the loading station, and for similar access to the forward-based cylinder 34 of an elevating ram 35 for the spindle which happens to be at the compacting station. Rams 33-35 are precisely aligned with the respective station axes and are shown with conical upper ends for spindle-axis registry at these stations; in the retracted positions shown in FIG. 1, rams 33-35 clear the underside of turntable 15, for unobstructed index displacement.

Each of the spindles 13-14 and its support will be better understood from later description in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. For present purposes, however, it should be observed that each spindle comprises an elongate upstanding coil-locating stem portion 37, extending above integral radially outward angularly spaced bracket formations 38 which establish a platform upon which the lower end of a loaded coil is received. Between the bracket formations 38, upstanding angularly spaced guide rods 39 rise from mounting platforms 40 forming part of the turntable structure; rods 39 are located near and within the radial limits of bracket formations 38, to assure that no part of the loaded coil material will fail to derive spindle support, based at 38. The spindles 13-14 are independently guided for such vertical lifting elevation as they may derive from the respective rams 33-35. For coil loading, the full extent of this lift is designated A in FIG. 1 and is attributable to ram (33) actuation by means 32; for the coil-compaction operation (to be later described), the full extent of such lift is designated B and is attributable to ram (35) actuation by means 34. The lift B will be seen to raise the packaged product 12 to a level just above the plane of product support, provided by conveyor 11, allowing transfer to the delivery conveyor, as will later be more fully explained.

Coil loading onto the spindle (13) at the loading station utilizes material-handling apparatus including a series of transversely mounted idler rolls 42, carried by and between spaced side-frame members 43 of the conveyor 10, for a short longitudinal span beyond the end 44 of continuously running endless-linked means which is the primary part of conveyor 10. The collective longitudinal span of rolls 42 terminates near the loadingstation axis, and beyond the span of rolls 42, a fender 45 is positioned to assure that coil material will be forwardly limited at a location within the confining ability of guide ring 18, shown with an outwardly flaring conical upper lip 46. In axially nested but radial clearance relation with fender 45 and the lip 46 of ring 18, an intermediate guide ring or funnel 47 is mounted for eccentric gyration (nutation). about the loading-station axis and within the lip 46 of ring 18; motor 48, gearing 49 and crank connection to an arm 50 will be understood to establish such gyration of the funnel ring 47, the rotary direction of eccentric gyration being selected to match the direction of helical advance of coiled material on the conveyor 10.

In a loading operation, the spindle (13) at the loading station will have been elevated to the extent A, so as to project the tapering upper end thereof into the lower open end of the gyrating ring 47. In this condition, it awaits arrival of the leading end of freshly coiled hot wire or rod that is being advanced up the conveyor 10. The coiled diameter of such material is approximately 1.3 to 1.4 times the effective minimum coil-supporting diametral extent D of the spindle stem portion 37, and the rate of eccentric gyration is sychronized with the rate of advance by conveyor means 44 such that slightly less or slightly more than one full cycle of eccentric gyration occurs for the time period required by conveyor 44 to advance one coil turn by one turn-toturn increment. This being the case, the wire end will gravitationally fall and be guided into the annular clearance between the spindle (l3) and the funnel 47, while being urged by eccentric gyration to adopt a spindleloaded pattern wherein successive turns of the loaded coil tend to radially fill the annular space defined by spindle-stem portion 37 and the guide rods 39. At the end of the wire length, the stern portion 37 will have been fully loaded, to a vertical axial extent determined by wire size and length, and by the indicated available annular space. Thereupon, the loaded spindle is returned to its retracted position, in readiness for indexing the same to the coil-compacting station.

SPINDLE MOUNTING Principal spindle features have thus far only been generally identified at stem and bracket regions 37-38, and it has been indicated that each spindle is vertically positionable on its axis. Details of the spindle and its mount will now be explained, in the context of FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular.

Briefly, each spindle comprises a long central cylindrical rod or tube 52, rigidly connected at its upper end to an outer tube 53 and in radially spaced clearance relation thereto; the stern and bracket regions 37-38 characterize the outer tube 53. Within the radial clearance is a cylindrical guide tube 54 secured by a base plate 54' at its lower end to the turntable 15. The upper end of the guide tube 54 carries a bushing 55 having a bore by which upper piloting engagement is made to the inner tube 52, such piloting action is achieved at the lower end by plural angularly spaced rolls 56 carried by the spindle and riding the guide tube 54, beneath bracket formations 38. Elongate guide ribs 57 (FIGS. 2 and 2A) astride the angular location of at least one of rolls 56 establish angular locating reference for the spindle on its guide tube 54, over all but the uppermost spindle position, namely under the circumstance of full elevation of the spindle to the extent B (already described in connection with FIG. 1); in FIG. 2A, a phantom outline 56 identifies the location of roll 56 for the B-elevated condition, the same being free of guides 57 to permit a spindle-index displacement on its own axis for a purpose to be later explained. Upon subsequent spindle retraction, flared mouth formations 57 at the upper end of guides 57 enable slight corrective location of the spindle during its retraction, as a roll 56 enters the guide passage defined by means 57.

In the lowermost spindle position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the means 58 which closes the upper end of the spindle (and which also interconnects the inner and outer tubular members 5253) encounters limiting abutment with the bushing 55. At this lowermost position, the lower end of the inner tube 52 projects into and through the turntable for engagement by one of the lift rams 33-35; as shown, a cap 59 closes the lower end of tube 52 and is formed with a conical concavity 60 for retained ram-centering engagement throughout all spindle-elevating operations.

The spindle structure is further characterized by plural like Lshaped wing elements 61 secured at equal angular spacings to the outer tube 53, the stem of the L defining one of several angularly spaced parts of the stem portion 37, and the base of the L defining one of several angularly spaced parts of the bracket formation 38; four such elements 61 are shown. Each element 61 comprises two spaced L-shaped side plates 62, connected along radially outer edges by plates and panels 63 which include an elongate, radially outwardly open channel or groove 64; as shown, particularly in FIG. 3, each pair of adjacent side plates 62 of adjacent wing elements 61 consists of integrallly connected folded halves of a single inverted T-shaped piece, folded centrally along the stem of the T. Channel 64 extends axially beyond upper and lower limits anticipated for a coil compacted on the spindle, so that a coil-banding strip may be looped via the channel to locally secure all compacted coil turns at the locale of one or more of elements 61. As shown, the upper end of each element is inwardly sloped, to contribute to a generally conical upper spindle end shape, and channel 64 is truncated by this sloped end. Also, the plates 65-66 which interconnect upper edges of bracket formations 38 in plates 61 include a radially outward and upwardly open channel formation 67 which is continuous with the upstanding channel 64 and thereby affords free band-strip passage beneath a compacted coil; replaceable wear plates 65 are shown on all upwardly exposed coil-supporting surfaces, bolted to plates 65. The effective minimum coil-supporting diameter of the stem portion 37 is indicated by a phantomoutline circle 37 in FIG. 2.

The angular spaces between elements 61 and at the upper end of the spindle, provide nested accommodation for blocks 68, each of which is securely mounted to the spindle and has a radial locking bore 69, for a clamp-locking purpose to be later explained. Preferably, the outer exposed face of each block 68 is inclined inwardly at a taper angle selected in the range of to for center-locating coaction with the clamp part to be locked thereto.

Finally, FIG. 2 shows illustrative limit-switch provision whereby upper and lower limits of the respective lift displacements are predetermined, it being understood that the hydraulic flow at cylinders 32-34 is suitably governed thereby, as by solenoid valves in a pressure-fluid circuit not otherwise shown. First and second limit switches 70-71 are shown mounted upon a fixed central upstanding column 72, located in register with the index axis and above turntable 15; column 72 may be thus suspended from and between upper frame members 25, as suggested in FIG. 1. Switch faces the loading station and is set to change its state when intercepted by a trip arm 73 on the spindle at the loading station, the set position of switch 70 thus corresponding to the upper limit of lift displacement A. In similar fashion, switch 71 faces the coil-compacting station and is set to change its state when intercepted by the corresponding trip arm 73 on the spindle at the compacting station, the set position of switch 71 thus corresponding to the upper limit of lift displacement B. At the lower end of spindle travel, arms 73 may intercept and actuate further limit-switch means 74, as at the turntable-mounted location shown in FIG. 2, for stopping the hydraulic flow accompanying spindle descent, or for safety interlock with the turntableindexing operations, or for other control purposes, as desired.

COIL-COMPRESSION CLAMP It is a feature of the invention that coil compaction shall utilize the loaded spindle as part of the coilcompression clamp itself, the remaining part of the clamp being the clamp-adapter assembly 19 carried by the upper frame 25. Generally, such an adapter assembly comprises (a) an annular pressure plate through which the upper end of a coil-loaded spindle can extend, (b) a connection plate engageableand detachably lockable to the locating and locking means 6869 of the raised spindle, and (c) an axial-force actuator reacting between the connection plate and the pressure plate for applying axially compressive force between the pressure plate and the platform formation 38 of the spindle, via the stem portion 37 of the spindle and, therefore, substantially independent of any frame reference or loading. In the form of FIGS. 4 to 6, the connection plate rests upon the upper frame structure (25 and the pressure plate is thrust downwardly to achieve coil compression; in the form of FIG. 7, the pressure plate rests on the upper frame structure (25) and the connection plate is drawn upwardly to achieve coil compaction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, supporting structure for a clamp-adapter assembly 19 is seen to comprise a horizontal bed plate 75 having a large circular central opening and provided with a plurality of upstanding arcuate and flat stiffening and reinforcement members 76-77, best seen in FIG. 5. Four upstanding legs 78 mount corner brackets 79 of plate 75 to the upper frame structure (25). Within the margin established by arcuate plates 76, an annular ledge or flange 80 is defined, for rotationally free support of connection-plate means 81, guide rollers 82 being mounted at spaced locations between arcuate plates 76, to aid in selective rotational manipulation of connection-plate means 81, when desired; a motor-driven pinion 83 on a vertical axis fixed with reference to bed plate 75 is shown engaged to an arcuate ring-gear segment 84 on connection-plate means 81, for selective rotary indexing displacement thereof, for a coil-banding operation to be later discussed.

Connection-plate means 81 is literally a flat circular plate, for example Ar-inch thick steel for the coil dimensions and loads thus far indicated. Its rim overlaps and rests upon the supporting flange 80, and its periphery rides the centering rollers 82. From its lower surface,

four locating blocks 85 project downwardly, with sloped inner surfaces for center-locating engagement with the corresponding surfaces of blocks 68, at the upper end of whichever spindle is at the coilcompacting station. Each block 85 has a guide bore which extends radially of the station axis, for support and guidance of a locking pin 86, the latter being in register with a locking bore 69 when the corresponding sloping surfaces of blocks 85-68 have properly nested the spindle with respect to the connection plate; double-acting fluid-pressure devices 87 are supported by plate 81 for driving pins 86 in unison, into and out of locking relation with bores 69.

On its upper surface, connection plate 81 rigidly mounts four upstanding tubular guide columns 88, at equal angularly spaced locations about the station axis, and upper crossbar members 89 stabilize the rigid spacing of column 88. Central trunions 90 are also fixed to the upper surface of plate 81, with provision for universal-pivot connection at 91 to the lower end of a doubleacting fluidpressure actuator 92, relied upon for development of coil-compaction forces and displacement.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the pressure plate 93 is of annular open box-like construction, having a large central opening through which the upper end of the spindle can pass on its way to the described locating and locking relation with connection-plate means 81. The pressure plate 93 is characterized by downwardly open, spaced channel-shaped formations 94, at spacings and angular locations which register and communicate with the coil-banding channels 64. Each bridge 95 which spans such a recess is the mount for a hub or boss 96 which is internally threaded to accept the threaded lower end of one of a corresponding plurality of positioning rods 97. Rods 97 are guided in and by the respective columns 88 and are united at their upper ends to a suitably reinforced crosshead plate 98 having universal connection at 99 to the piston rod 100 associated with actuator 92.

The adapter assembly 19 is thus seen to be unithandling in its axially guided interconnection of pressure plate 93 to connection plate 81, and to be complete (a) with the axial-force actuator 92 for development of coil-compacting forces and displacements and (b) with the means (86-87) of selective locking to the spindle at the compaction station. In the relation of parts shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 92 has upwardly driven the crosshead plate 98, to raise pressure plate 93 to its fully retracted position. When connection plate 81 is locked to the spindle blocks 68, the connection plate 81 and the spindle (including its coil-supporting bracket pads 65') are all axially locked to the cylinder of actuator 92, and a downstroke actuation of actuator rod 100 drives pressure plate 93 into direct engagement with the upper end of the loaded coil (suggested at 101, in FIG. 6).

FIG. 7 shows a modified clamp-adapter assembly wherein it is the pressure plate 104 which is flanged at 105 to indexibly rest upon the annular flange 80 of the upper frame structure, and wherein it is the connection plate 106 which is moved upwardly to develop cornpressional displacement and force to compact the coil of a loaded spindle (14). Specifically, the pressure plate 104 is of reinforced box-like construction, presenting a flat lower surface 107 for engagement with the upper end of a loaded coil, the surface 107 having a central opening 108 designed to radially clear the inserted stem portion of the spindle. Upstanding columns 109 at equal angular spacings about the station axis establish a firm elevated base for a reinforced platform 110 to the center of which the piston rod 111 of double-acting actuator means 112 is universally connected, at 113. The connector plate 106 will be recognized for its locating blocks and locking pins, to which the same reference numerals -86 have been applied, due to their complete correspondence to those in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6. Also, the actuator 112 is shown mounted upon the connector plate 106, it being noted that, if desired, such connection may also be of the universal variety identified at 91 in FIG. 4.

In the relation of parts depicted in FIG. 7, ram 35 has elevated the spindle (14) to the locating and locking position to be secured by radially inward displacement of all locking pins 86. At that point in time, the spindle (14), the connector plate 106 and the cylinder of actuator 112 are all axially united to establish one half of the coil-compression clamp. The other half of the clamp involves the axially rigid connection of the pressure plate 104 to piston rod 111, via means 109-11- 0-113. The piston 114 within actuator 112 is at the tail end of the cylinder of the actuator, a position determined by blocks 85 seating upon the lower surface member 107 of the pressure plate 104. Upon admission of pressure fluid in the direction indicated by arrows, i.e., in at the tail end and out at the head end of actuator 112, the connection plate 106 and all that it carries (i.e., the loaded spindle) are drawn upwardly to close the axial gap between coil-engaging surfaces 107-38, the coompressionalforce reaction being solely sustained by the described adapter and spindle parts, and independent of any frame reference. When thus compressed, it will be seen that the device of FIG. 7 has placed the compressed coil at the B elevation, i.e., just above the support plane of the delivery conveyor system 11.

MACHINE OPERATION Regardless of the clamp-adapter mechanism selected, operation of the overall machine is essentially the same, and the machine is equal to the task of accommodating successive coil-wire lengths, attributable for example to successive roll-reduction operation upon different one-ton billets successively fed for rollreduction. It will be appreciated that upon run-out of one billet at the entrance to roll-reduction operations, physical time is required to manipulate the next billet into place for its roll-reduction operation. Use is made of this relatively short interval of time (between successive coil-wire lengths), to perform the turntableindexing function described for indexing means 20. Also, it will be appreciated that even though the coilloading operation at the loading station is at the same great speed with which wire can be supplied by conveyor 10, the time required for spindle loading is more than adequate to permit the loaded spindle (14) to be processed for connector-plate'location and locking, followed by extreme coil compression, banding of the compressed coil, release of compression and locking, and spindle (14) retraction. Thus, as soon as a new length of coil-wire has been completely loaded at the loading spindle (13), all is ready for turntable indexing, toadvance the newly loaded spindle into the compacting station, and to return the newly unloaded spindle to the loading station.

I The "unloading of a newly packaged product (a banded and compressed coil) from' thespindl'e "(14')'at' the compaction station will be seen to'be accomplished by insertion of a movable part of the delivery-conveyor system 11 into position beneath the packagedproduct while still supported by the spindle at the elevated position B, i.e., when the plane of spindle support (established by means 38) is above the plane of support provided by conveyor means 11. In the form shown (see FIGS. 1, 7 and 8), the retractable part of the deliveryconveyor system comprises two roller frames'l 14-1 15 which, in their conveyor-plane position (see FIG; 8), are of planiform effectively occupying the sectional area close to and surrounding 'the sectional profile of the stem portion 37 of spindle-wing elements 61.1n retracted position, both of these frames 115-116 are displaced to vertical orientation, well offset from the path of lift movement of a spindle (14) and its load.-

Specifically, and taking frame 114 as illustrative, the retractable support is established by spaced side-frame members 117 in alignment with opposite lateral sides of the delivery conveyor 11. Frame members 117 are interconnected by means 118 and they each'include an offset arm 119 at the end of which they are pivotally suspended from the legs 78 which mount the'horizontal bed plate 75 and which form part of the upper frame structure on beams 25. Between frame members 117 and also connected thereto by means 1 18 is an intermediate framework including members 120-121, whereby corresponding'sets of relatively short conveyor rollers 122-122 can be positioned on opposite lateral sides of the coil-supporting bracket region 38 of one of the wing elements 61 of an elevated spindle." On the opposite side of frame member 121, afull-length conveyor roller 123 extends between opposed frame members 117. Preferably, all rollers 112-121-123 of each of the two retractable roller frames 114-115 are continuously driven in the direction of delivery out of the compaction station and to the right (in the sense of FIG. 1) along conveyor 11; such drive is delivered concentrically within the pivot for arm 119 to its frame-mounting leg 78, as suggested by directional arrows on the rollers and about the drive-input axis 124. Each of the frames 114-115 is retracted by a fluid-pressure actuator suspended from one of the fixed frame legs 78 and having a rod connection 125 to part of the adjacent retractable frame member 117, the retracted position being suggested by phantom outline 114' in FIG. 8.

Thus, it is seen that delivery of a packaged article 12 from the compaction station to the exit conveyor 11 is accomplished automatically, as the spindle (14) is retracted from its most elevated (extent B) position','in

the circumstance of frames 114-115 with their driven rollers having been repositioned beneath the coilsupportingplane of the elevated spindlel Upon full retraction of the spindle (14), it is relieved of its coil load,

products; It will be noted, however, .that even without indexing the spindle 14 with its compacted coil, there are two'freely accesible passages for band insertion, presented to operators standing on opposite sides of the upperframe structure at the compaction station. For

' example, the channel systems 64-67-94 serving the opposed'locations designated M-N in FIG. 8 may be conandat full retraction (certified by operation of the apciated with the control system forthe double-acting actuator means .125.

I l Withrespect tocoilbandin g, i's a matter'of prefere'nce andof technical specification for particular curre'n'tlybanded by two operators, to produce a product having only two opposed tie bands. However, if it is desired to produce a product having four equally spaced tie bands, and using two operators, the spindleindexing means 83-84 is operated to the extent of a index after banding at M-N and to permit the same operators to add two more bands, at locations P-Q. Alternatively, with'a index at 83-84 after a single operator has produced a first banding at location M, the same operator can produce a second banding at N, thus saving the cost of a banding operator. It goes without saying that, if the banding operation can be performed with sufficient speed, there is no reason why the described mechanism should not permit banding at all four locations (M-N-P-Q) by or under the supervision of a single operator, relying upon 90-degree indexes by means 83-84 between each individual banding operation. i

It will be seen that the described invention meets all stated objects. In practice, it is found to produce packaged product of superior density and integrity, making for simplified handling and more efficient storage and transportation. This is accomplished without loading the upper frame structure in any way, and the operation proceeds swiftly without imposing limitations on the production-feeding of hot billets for the rollreduction which must precede coil-forming and compacting.

While the invention has been described in detail for the forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departure from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A coil-compacting machine, comprising a base, an H upstanding coil-locating spindle and means guiding and selectively verticallypositioning said spindle with respect to said base; said spindle including at its lower end a radially outward platform formation adapted to I receive and support coil stock applied over the upper end of said spindle, an upper frame structure establishing a horizontal plane of support above said spindle when the latter is in its retracted-down position, and selectively operable clamp-adapter means carried by said upper frame structure; said clamp-adapter means comprising an' annular pressure plate positioned above said spindle when in retracted-down position and having a 7 central opening-sized to accommodate upward insertion by said spindle, a connection plate engageable by said spindle when elevated, means for detachably locking saidconnection plate and spindle when elevated, and axial-force actuator means reacting between said connection plate and said pressure plate for applying axially compressive force to compact coil stock betweeirsaid pressure plate and said platform formation;

whereby, said spindle and. said clamp-adapter means coact' to define a unitary coil-compressing clamp when said connection plate and spindle are locked together. 2. The'm'achin'e ofclaim 1, in which said connection plate is supported by said upper frame structure and said pressure plate is downwardly actuated to develop coil-compressing force.

3. The machine of claim 2, in which said actuator means is double-acting and in which said upper frame structure includes a coil-conveyor element retractably positionable in coil-supportable location beneath and substantially at the horizontal plane of support provided by said platform formation when said pressure plate and spindle are in upwardly actuated position.

4. The machine of claim 1, in which said pressure plate is supported by said upper frame structure and said connection plate is upwardly actuated to develop coil-compressing force.

5. The machine of claim 4, in which said upper frame structure includes a coil-conveyor element retractably positionable in coil-supportable location beneath and substantially at the horizontal plane of support provided by said platform formation when said connection plate is in upwardly actuated position.

6. The machine of claim 1, in which said spindle includes at least one elongate radially outwardly open band-strip accommodating groove along and beyond both ends of the coil-receiving length of said spindle.

7. The machine of claim 6, in which said pressure plate includes a radially outwardly open groove formation in angular register with the spindle groove.

8. The machine of claim 6, in which said platform formation includes a radially outwardly open groove formation in angular register with the spindle groove.

9. The machine of claim 1, in which said spindle includes a plurality of angularly spaced elongate radially outwardly open band-strip accommodating grooves along and beyond both ends of the coil-receiving length of said spindle.

10. The machine of claim 9, in which said pressure plate and platform formations include radially outwardly open groove formations in angular register with the respective spindle grooves.

11. The machine of claim 10, and including selectively operable means for angularly indexing said unitary coil-compressing clamp about the spindle axis.

12. The machine of claim 11, in which the indexing advance of said indexing means is substantially equal to the angular interval between adjacent grooves.

13. The machine of claim 11, in which said indexing means comprises an arcuate ring-gear element carried by a part of said unitary coil-compressing clamp, and drive means carried by said upper frame structure and including a pinion meshing with said ring-gear element.

14. The machine of claim 1, in which said base comprises a bed and turntable means rotatably mounted on a fixed vertical axis in said bed, said spindle being one of a plurality of like turntable-mounted spindles supported at equal angular spacings about the turntable axis of rotation, and in which said upper frame structure is fixedly located with respect to said bed and at one spindle location about the turntable axis, and spindle-loading means fixedly located with respect to said bed and at another spindle location about the turntable axis.

15. The machine of claim l4, in which indexing means coacting between said bed and turntable is provided for intermittent angular indexing of spindles in angular increments equal to the spindle-to-spindle interval about the turntable axis.

16. The machine of claim 14, in which said bed includes a spindle-elevator ram on a fixed verticalaxis beneath and in register with the location of a spindle and; selectively operable means for elevating said ram into-yertical-driving relation ,with the particular spindle at said one spindle location.

17. The machine of claim 14, in which the number of spindles is two.

18. The machine of claim 14, in which said bed includes a spindle-elevator ram on a fixed vertical axis beneath and in register with the location of a spindle that has been indexed into said other spindle location.

19. The machine of claim 1, in which said spindle is characterized by an elongate central cylindrical bore closed at its upper end and by an elongate stern carried by saidclosed end, said stem being in radial clearance within said bore; and in which said means for guiding and vertically positioning said spindle includes an upstanding elongate cylindrical tube fixed at its lower end to said base and in piloting relation with said spindle within said clearance.

20. The machine of claim 19, in which said means for guiding and vertically positioning said spindle includes a base-mounted spindle-elevator ram on a fixed vertical axis beneath and in register with said stem, and selectively operable means for elevating said ram into vertical-driving relation with said stem.

21. A coil-compacting machine, comprising a base, an upstanding coil-locating spindle and means for guiding and selectively vertically positioning said spindle with respect to said base, said spindle including at its lower end a radially outward platform formation adapted to receive and support coil stock applied over the upper end of said spindle, an upper frame structure establishing a horizontal plane of support above said .spindle when the latter is in its retracteddown position,

and selectively operable clamp means carried by said upper frame structure; said clamp means comprising a base plate engageable by said spindle when elevated, means for detachably locking said base plate and spindle when elevated, an annular pressure plate suspended by and beneath said base plate and having a central opening sized to accommodate upward insertion by said spindle, and axial-force actuator means connecting said base and pressure plates for applying axially downward force to compact coil stock between said pressure plate and said platform formation.

. 22. The machine according to claim 21, in which said actuator means is fluid-pressure operated.

23. The machine of claim 22, in which said actuator means comprises a double-acting hydraulic actuator above said base plate and centrally connected at its lower end to said base plate, a crosshead top plate centrally connected to the upper end of said actuator, and plural connecting rods at equal angular spacings about said actuator and rigidly connecting correspondingly spaced points on said pressure plate to said crosshead top plate.

24. The machine of claim 23, in which said base plate includes plural upstanding guide sleeves at the spacings of said connecting rods, each sleeve guiding one rod.

25. The machine of claim 24, in which rigid structure unites and spaces both the upper and the lower ends of said sleeves.

26. The method of axially compacting a coil of metal wire or the like using an elongate spindle with a coilreceiving platform at one end, which comprises supporting the spindle on an upstanding axis with its platform at the lower end, loosely assembling a multi-turn coil over the other end of the spindle and into abutment with the platform, selecting an annular pressure plate of size to substantially span the effective radial thickness of the multi-turn coil and to be movably positiionable along the spindle, selecting a connection plate for detachably lockable connection to the spindle, assembling the pressure and connection plates over the upper end of the spindle and locking the connection plate to the spindle, hydraulically applying force independent of spindle support and axially between said plates in the direction to cause approaching axial displacement of via the groove in the performance of the securing step. 

1. A coil-compacting machine, comprising a base, an upstanding coil-locating spindle and means guiding and selectively vertically positioning said spindle with respect to said base; said spindle including at its lower end a radially outward platform formation adapted to receive and support coil stock applied over the upper end of said spindle, an upper frame structure establishing a horizontal plane of support above said spindle when the latter is in its retracted-down position, and selectively operable clamp-adapter means carried by said upper frame structure; said clamp-adapter means comprising an annular pressure plate positioned above said spindle when in retracteddown position and having a central opening sized to accommodate upward insertion by said spindle, a connection plate engageable by said spindle when elevated, means for detachably locking said connection plate and spindle when elevated, and axial-force actuator means reacting between said connection plate and said pressure plate for applying axially compressive force to compact coil stock between said pressure plate and said platform formation; whereby, said sPindle and said clamp-adapter means coact to define a unitary coil-compressing clamp when said connection plate and spindle are locked together.
 2. The machine of claim 1, in which said connection plate is supported by said upper frame structure and said pressure plate is downwardly actuated to develop coil-compressing force.
 3. The machine of claim 2, in which said actuator means is double-acting and in which said upper frame structure includes a coil-conveyor element retractably positionable in coil-supportable location beneath and substantially at the horizontal plane of support provided by said platform formation when said pressure plate and spindle are in upwardly actuated position.
 4. The machine of claim 1, in which said pressure plate is supported by said upper frame structure and said connection plate is upwardly actuated to develop coil-compressing force.
 5. The machine of claim 4, in which said upper frame structure includes a coil-conveyor element retractably positionable in coil-supportable location beneath and substantially at the horizontal plane of support provided by said platform formation when said connection plate is in upwardly actuated position.
 6. The machine of claim 1, in which said spindle includes at least one elongate radially outwardly open band-strip accommodating groove along and beyond both ends of the coil-receiving length of said spindle.
 7. The machine of claim 6, in which said pressure plate includes a radially outwardly open groove formation in angular register with the spindle groove.
 8. The machine of claim 6, in which said platform formation includes a radially outwardly open groove formation in angular register with the spindle groove.
 9. The machine of claim 1, in which said spindle includes a plurality of angularly spaced elongate radially outwardly open band-strip accommodating grooves along and beyond both ends of the coil-receiving length of said spindle.
 10. The machine of claim 9, in which said pressure plate and platform formations include radially outwardly open groove formations in angular register with the respective spindle grooves.
 11. The machine of claim 10, and including selectively operable means for angularly indexing said unitary coil-compressing clamp about the spindle axis.
 12. The machine of claim 11, in which the indexing advance of said indexing means is substantially equal to the angular interval between adjacent grooves.
 13. The machine of claim 11, in which said indexing means comprises an arcuate ring-gear element carried by a part of said unitary coil-compressing clamp, and drive means carried by said upper frame structure and including a pinion meshing with said ring-gear element.
 14. The machine of claim 1, in which said base comprises a bed and turntable means rotatably mounted on a fixed vertical axis in said bed, said spindle being one of a plurality of like turntable-mounted spindles supported at equal angular spacings about the turntable axis of rotation, and in which said upper frame structure is fixedly located with respect to said bed and at one spindle location about the turntable axis, and spindle-loading means fixedly located with respect to said bed and at another spindle location about the turntable axis.
 15. The machine of claim 14, in which indexing means coacting between said bed and turntable is provided for intermittent angular indexing of spindles in angular increments equal to the spindle-to-spindle interval about the turntable axis.
 16. The machine of claim 14, in which said bed includes a spindle-elevator ram on a fixed vertical axis beneath and in register with the location of a spindle that has been indexed into said one spindle location, and selectively operable means for elevating said ram into vertical-driving relation with the particular spindle at said one spindle location.
 17. The machine of claim 14, in which the number of spindles is two.
 18. The machine of claim 14, in which said bed includes a spindle-elevator ram on a fIxed vertical axis beneath and in register with the location of a spindle that has been indexed into said other spindle location.
 19. The machine of claim 1, in which said spindle is characterized by an elongate central cylindrical bore closed at its upper end and by an elongate stem carried by said closed end, said stem being in radial clearance within said bore; and in which said means for guiding and vertically positioning said spindle includes an upstanding elongate cylindrical tube fixed at its lower end to said base and in piloting relation with said spindle within said clearance.
 20. The machine of claim 19, in which said means for guiding and vertically positioning said spindle includes a base-mounted spindle-elevator ram on a fixed vertical axis beneath and in register with said stem, and selectively operable means for elevating said ram into vertical-driving relation with said stem.
 21. A coil-compacting machine, comprising a base, an upstanding coil-locating spindle and means for guiding and selectively vertically positioning said spindle with respect to said base, said spindle including at its lower end a radially outward platform formation adapted to receive and support coil stock applied over the upper end of said spindle, an upper frame structure establishing a horizontal plane of support above said spindle when the latter is in its retracteddown position, and selectively operable clamp means carried by said upper frame structure; said clamp means comprising a base plate engageable by said spindle when elevated, means for detachably locking said base plate and spindle when elevated, an annular pressure plate suspended by and beneath said base plate and having a central opening sized to accommodate upward insertion by said spindle, and axial-force actuator means connecting said base and pressure plates for applying axially downward force to compact coil stock between said pressure plate and said platform formation.
 22. The machine according to claim 21, in which said actuator means is fluid-pressure operated.
 23. The machine of claim 22, in which said actuator means comprises a double-acting hydraulic actuator above said base plate and centrally connected at its lower end to said base plate, a crosshead top plate centrally connected to the upper end of said actuator, and plural connecting rods at equal angular spacings about said actuator and rigidly connecting correspondingly spaced points on said pressure plate to said crosshead top plate.
 24. The machine of claim 23, in which said base plate includes plural upstanding guide sleeves at the spacings of said connecting rods, each sleeve guiding one rod.
 25. The machine of claim 24, in which rigid structure unites and spaces both the upper and the lower ends of said sleeves.
 26. The method of axially compacting a coil of metal wire or the like using an elongate spindle with a coil-receiving platform at one end, which comprises supporting the spindle on an upstanding axis with its platform at the lower end, loosely assembling a multi-turn coil over the other end of the spindle and into abutment with the platform, selecting an annular pressure plate of size to substantially span the effective radial thickness of the multi-turn coil and to be movably positiionable along the spindle, selecting a connection plate for detachably lockable connection to the spindle, assembling the pressure and connection plates over the upper end of the spindle and locking the connection plate to the spindle, hydraulically applying force independent of spindle support and axially between said plates in the direction to cause approaching axial displacement of the platform and pressure plate with respect to each other, continuing the application of hydraulic force until desired axial compaction of the coil, securing the coil in compressed condition before releasing the hydraulically applied force, and then unlocking and removing the plates from the spindle.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the spindle is seleCted for an elongate radial groove along its coil-loadable length, and wherein a selected strip of flexible binding material is looped and fastened around the coil via the groove in the performance of the securing step. 